Is Your Child Ready for Flag Football?

Flag football for kids

The most important thing to know is that flag football is no contact. Unlike traditional tackle football, players don’t tackle each other at all. Instead, they remove one or both flags from their opponent’s flag belt to end the play. Because of this, we find that many kids are less intimidated by the idea of playing football. Without physical contact, they can develop necessary skills and more easily contribute to the team’s success.

Secondly, like many sports, flag football evolves as kids get older. In the beginning, especially for the younger elementary school kids, coaches focus on general concepts and (most importantly) having fun. Then, as kids learn basic skills, they begin to build upon them. So while teams run just a few routes at the U6 level, you’ll find that older teams are more creative with their plays.

Even more, all NFL FLAG leagues are recreational, meaning no prior experience is necessary. Boys and girls of all skill levels and abilities can join a team.

What’s the best age to start flag football?

The short answer is—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to being ready to play. Some kids want to compete right away starting at Pre-K, while other families like to wait. Either way, here are a few signs that may indicate your child is ready to join a flag football team.

They’re active. Flag football takes a certain level of coordination and gross motor skills. In other words, players run up and down the field. A lot. If your child loves to be active, they’ll definitely get some energy out playing flag football. The amount of running is pretty comparable to soccer, for example.
They like working in a team or playing with other kids. NFL FLAG teams mostly play 4v4 or 5v5, so you can expect your child to get in on the action. And with so many moving parts at once, they’ll really begin to understand teamwork and sportsmanship. They might not pick up game concepts right away—and that’s okay. As long as they’re excited to work together, they’re ready to play flag football.
You can make the commitment. Kids are—well, kids. They might not always listen or follow directions. That’s sort of what we sign up for as parents, right? But as long as you’re ready to help them commit to their team by showing up every week and respecting the coaches and referees, the minor distractions here and there won’t be a big deal. Even more, they’ll begin to learn a sense of discipline in a structured team environment. What a win!